Tee Time for TotsAt the start of each summer, my kids design a miniature golf course in our backyard. Sometimes it takes them days to complete. They dig holes for the balls and creatively design the course so it has obstacles and fun things to attract golfers of all skill levels. All summer long, we invite neighborhood kids (and adults) to play on our course.

Puppy LoveThe best things we ever did were to fence in our backyard, put in a swing set and get two puppies! I grew tired of seeing the kids playing video games and watching television. The puppies prompted them to get outside and chase around after them instead. We also try to eat outside whenever possible to encourage the kids to run off lunch or dinner.

—Rosanne Kenealy, field manager, Laurel, MD

Slip-Sliding AwayOur backyard is very hilly, so we roll out heavy-duty black plastic, turn on the hose and make a homemade water slide that eventually turns to a mud slide at the bottom. None of the kids can resist this. We also keep plenty of sports equipment in the garage. When the kids get bored, they can go there to find a Frisbee, jump ropes or hula hoops to get them moving.